With the primary election less than two weeks away, the state Board of Elections on Wednesday voted 4-to-2 to fire its controversy-prone — and twice suspended — executive director Robert Kando. After the vote, the chairman, Richard R. Dubois, told reporters: “There’s a history, but we’re moving because we want someone who is a little more innovative.” Effective immediately, he said, Bob Rapoza, the director of elections who took then-suspended Kando’s place during the presidential primary in April, would take charge as the acting executive director. “We just have to move on,” said Dubois, whose elevation to the chairmanship in June, along with the appointment by Governor Raimondo of two new members to the board broke the long-running stalemate over Kando’s future as the $145,994 a year head of the state board that presides over campaign-finance reporting, ballot counts and many other election-related activities.
Among the unanswered questions: the terms, if any, of severance package and whether — or not — Kando — who had three lawyers standing by at Wednesday night’s meeting, would fight the dismissal.
Kando left the building, without comment, moments after the vote, which took place in public after a 47-minute closed-door session. One of his lawyers, Richard Sinapi, told reporters: “We have to review our legal options.”
Full Article: Board of Elections fires embattled executive director Robert Kando – News – providencejournal.com – Providence, RI.